Hanford Allen Files was born on November 17, 1920, in Wahkonsa Township, Webster County, Iowa. He was the son of James Ray Files and Anna M. Louis Files. He graduated from the University of California before joining the service on September 23, 1942. He served in Company E, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, as a First Lieutenant during World War II and took part in Operation Market Garden.

On September 17, 1944, he led the main body of the Company to set up a roadblock along the Bosshebaan to counter an expected enemy counterattack from the south into Grave. They heard the sound of a tank engine and assumed that it was the British. 1Lt Files, together with some men, went to take a look. It turned out to be two German Sturmgeschütz III (StuG III) assault guns approaching, which opened fire, wounding several paratroopers, and killing 1Lt Files, who was hit in the throat.

1Lt Files is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.

Silver Star Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Hanford A. Files (ASN: 0-495711), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company E, 2d Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action against the enemy in Holland, on 17 September 1944. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Source of information: valor.militarytimes.com, www.honorstates.org